Local Election Candidate Responses to OSMBC Questions

“As a trustee, we need to consider several questions. What would the actual cost to the district be, and what would be the value to students? Do we have an instructor with the appropriate qualifications and capacity to deliver the program? Do we have an appropriate facility or course available, or would the district need to develop or maintain one? What equipment would be required, and would students be expected to provide their own bikes and safety equipment? We would also need to understand the ongoing costs, insurance, supervision, transportation and maintenance requirements.

I would also want to understand how many students could realistically participate and whether the program would provide a meaningful educational opportunity within our existing course structure.

I am certainly open to revisiting the proposal and looking at the information with an open mind. If there is a strong educational benefit, sufficient student interest, qualified instruction, an appropriate facility and a sustainable financial model, I believe it would be reasonable for the Board to consider the proposal seriously.”

“The growth of the SD67 Mountain Bike Team and its success at both league and provincial levels is impressive and speaks to the dedication of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families who support the program.

1. Yes, I support exploring opportunities for SD67 students to participate in specialized programs that align with their interests and provide meaningful educational and athletic experiences. The success and growth of the mountain bike team clearly demonstrate strong student engagement and parental/community support.
2. Yes. I would support revisiting the proposal and ensuring it receives fair consideration by the Board. Given the participation levels, competitive achievements, and examples of similar programs operating successfully in other districts, I believe it is a discussion worth having.
   That said, as trustees we must balance many competing priorities and make decisions within the financial realities of the district. SD67 has operated under significant budget constraints over many years, requiring us to carefully evaluate all program proposals against available resources, staffing requirements, facility needs, transportation considerations, and the broader educational needs of all students.
   As our district moves through the current reconfiguration process and the closure of three schools is fully realized, I am hopeful that greater operational efficiencies may provide more flexibility to consider innovative programs such as this in the future.
3. My primary considerations would not be whether mountain biking is worthy of support, but rather how a program could be in a financially sustainable manner. Key factors would include what kind of supports your group would be looking for (ie program costs, staffing requirements, liability and safety considerations, transportation needs, long-term sustainability) and the impact on existing educational programs and resources. Addressing these factors through a well-developed proposal would help the entire Board assess the feasibility of establishing a mountain bike course or academy.”

As I am not an incumbent, I haven’t had an opportunity to review any proposals or reasons for the board’s denial of the proposals mentioned. I would need to review all information from all parties involved including proposals, costs associated and how this would fit into the budget prior to forming an opinion.

“I believe we should follow the already established plans unless a user group comes with a compelling reason to vary what  has already been established. How fast these trails and routes are developed depends largely on grant funding. Funds raised by user groups can also be leveraged to complete specific projects as time goes by.”

“As a part time intermediate mountain biker, I love Conkle Mtn for both hiking and biking and my dog loves coming with me too. I support moving forward with the Trail Master Plan. Now, the plan can be anywhere from minimal involvement or, the skies the limit, and most obviously everything can be limited to budget. That said, failing to plan is a plan to fail. Many opponents say “leave it as it is”. Well I know that to do so, does nothing to deter anyone from riding, hiking, biking just anywhere and that is not helpful at all.
I am not familiar with the velosolutions type of modern pump track, although I do like pump tracks and help develop new rider skills.

I think I will answer your questions with a statement and “vision”, rather than question by question.

I love Conkle Mountain. As an intermediate rider and somewhat newer to mountain biking and now hiking for the past several years with my dog, I see not just Conkle but so many other areas with vast potential, not simply for biking but various user groups.
I would like to start off by saying that Conkle does need to be accessible for various forms of NON MOTORIZED recreation. It is used for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and all groups should be able to have designated AND some shared spaces. I also do not advocate for developing the heck out of that mountain. It is not THAT big and we must also be very respectful for the flora and fauna that call that mountain home. I would advocate for clear signage, shared use, self monitoring within communities to not create unplanned paths for example, which destroys vegetation. by properly planning we can keep users to designated trails and not create their own. I believe there could be a skills area for riders, new, young etc. to have a safer and more accessible area to develop skills before they start taking their skills higher up the mountain. I could envision different skill level trails. I could envision occasionally seeing races, in particular some youth events.
I would encourage involvement with many different user groups and stakeholders, including the PIB (Penticton Indian Band) Signage could have waymarking for GPS to assist in emergencies, signage could educate on the flora and fauna of the area and indigenous words and teachings.
Biking is on the rise and with it significant spin off business. Any given weekend look how packed the Beanery is with folks enjoying snacks after a good ride. I see a lot of potential in this area for multiple users. What also helps to fund a plan in the area is seeking grants in different areas, because there currently are multiple users and stakeholders. Additional spin off can also lead to greater use of the rodeo grounds, camping, events, etc.

Having some well planned development is also safer on many levels.

1. with better signage, and GPS points, first responders could react more efficiently
   2.skills area, helps build confidence for riders and educates them to ride in a safer manner.
2. potential wildfire threats: user groups assist in fire mitigation and trail maintenance which lowers fire risk, and creates possible fire guards. Increased activities also create risks such as fire and wildlife encounters, yet there is greater opportunities for education.

I hope that helps your organization with what my particular views are.

As with everything in Summerland, I plan to consider many aspects, views and opinions. Consider what investments make sense to residents and taxpayers, what is the overall impact on the community.

I do not take development lightly, it needs to be well thought out and be inclusive and have long term delivery and vision and sustainability.”

“I’m Lake Dennison I certainly support all that if it is financed by you or outside agencies. Summerland must focus on massive infrastructure maintenance and repair with fire mitigation. I encourage all able bodied people in your organization to join me in volunteer fire mitigation. Once we finish Summerland we an help other communities.”

“Campbell Mountain and the trail network. Yes. The master plan should be revisited with the people who actually ride and maintain those trails, and I support keeping our network strong and growing where it makes sense. I have a lot of respect for the volunteers who build and maintain our trails. That is real community work and the city should back it up with stable funding, because trails are one of the best bang for buck recreation investments we have. What I will not do is write blank cheques. Every dollar has to show value for taxpayers. A skills park. I am open to it, but I need the real numbers first. If there is a solid cost, a funding model that is not just local property taxes, and the community wants it, I would support it. You will get an honest answer from me on this once I see the full picture. A pump track. Same answer. Oliver is developing theirs with the support of a $200,000 RDOS grant. If we can put a plan together with grants and partners the way other communities have, I am in. Working with the cycling community. Yes. That is how these things should get built. You need clear agreements with PACA, land managers and Indigenous communities on who builds and maintains what so volunteers are not left holding the bag, and I will always chase outside funding before touching the local tax base. Are these worthwhile investments. Yes. They give kids something to do, support shoulder season tourism, and keep Penticton the outdoor city it is. Worthwhile does not mean open ended. My rule is simple. Clear cost, a funding source, someone responsible, and public reporting on how it went.”

“Yes. I support revisiting the Campbell Mountain Trail Master Plan and continuing to improve Penticton’s mountain bike trail network.

Yes. I support exploring a dedicated mountain bike skills park in Penticton.

Yes. I support exploring a modern pump track, including the type of facilities being developed in other B.C. communities.

Yes. I would support working with the cycling community to identify suitable locations, partnerships, grants and other external funding opportunities. I’d also like to see fundraising, grants and community partnerships help offset the cost to taxpayers.

Yes. I see trails, skills facilities and pump tracks as worthwhile investments in recreation, youth and tourism. I also believe we need to be responsible about how we fund them and look for outside funding wherever possible.

Having productive healthy outlets for our local community including young and older alike is something I can support!”

“To be transparent upfront, mountain biking is not an area I claim expertise in, and I am still in the process of learning about the specific infrastructure needs of all of the sports club needs in Penticton.. That said, I recognize that mountain biking and pump tracks are a vital piece of a much larger picture: sports tourism as a whole.

Where my stance is completely firm and unwavering is on the protection of our recreation land. I am unequivocally opposed to giving away or removing the land trust condition at 325 Power Street. ( which is up for referendum on October 17) Surrendering dedicated sports and recreation land sets a dangerous precedent, once municipal recreation land is lost, it is gone forever.

As climate change continues to impact our summer tourism economy, City Hall must protect every square foot of sports land we have and focus on developing versatile indoor dry spaces that can serve a wide variety of sports, beyond just traditional ice facilities like hockey—year-round.

Regarding your specific infrastructure questions, here is my perspective as I gather more information:

Revisiting the Campbell Mountain Trail Master Plan: I am open to reviewing the plan, with a focus on streamlining municipal process. The City’s role should center on creating clear, sensible permitting frameworks so that volunteer trail builders, civil engineers, and safety specialists can collaborate smoothly and build safely.

Developing a Skills Park & Pump Track: I see great potential in these facilities. Modern pump tracks and skills parks are fantastic, low-barrier recreation hubs that give youth and families a safe, active outlet right in our community while supporting local sports tourism.

Working on Locations, Funding, and Partnerships: Absolutely. I am eager to sit down with your club and community partners to explore suitable municipal locations, tap into regional grants, and build creative partnerships that bring these projects to life.

Broad Value of Cycling Infrastructure: I see immense value in expanding our trail and cycling assets. Investing in diverse, accessible sports infrastructure strengthens youth recreation, promotes healthy living, and builds long-term community vitality.

My priority on City Council will be to listen, protect our city’s core recreation assets, and work collaboratively with sports organizations across Penticton to build a vibrant, well-planned community. I welcome the opportunity to learn more from your club as these discussions move forward.”

“1) Yes, I would support revisiting the Campbell Mountain trail master plan and continuing to expand and improve the Penticton mountain bike trail network. We should continue to leverage being world renowned for our cycling and trail network.
2) I always thought a skills park could have been built along the KVR trail near the pump track for people to practise and/or try some technical elements. I think a skills park is a missing piece of infrastructure for our Mtn bike network.
3) I didn’t realize the current pump track was inadequate or that other designs would better target advanced users. If I had to choose between a new skills park or another pump track I would prioritize the skills park.
4) Yes, sometimes you need a group or someone to “champion” a cause. The city has had a great partnership with PACA for trail development and maintenance of Three Blind Mice as an example.
5) Yes I think we need to continue investing in our cycling infrastructure to bolster our cycling tourism assets and create more opportunities for people to try the sport. We have such an array of trail options, ranging from easy beginner to very advanced and technical ones. When I previously on council we lobbied the province to brand Penticton as a cycling precinct. They created signage for popular routes and committed to more street cleaning on popular road routes. There is massive potential to expand our cycling tourism.

“Yes, I support revisiting the Campbell Mountain Trail Master Plan and continuing to improve and expand Penticton’s mountain bike trail network.

I would also support exploring both a dedicated mountain bike skills park and a modern pump track in Penticton. I think facilities like these can give youth, families and riders of different skill levels more opportunities to be active, build skills and enjoy the outdoors.

If elected, I would absolutely be open to working with the Okanagan Skaha Mountain Bike Club and the mountain biking community to identify appropriate locations, potential partnerships and external funding opportunities for these projects. I think grants and partnerships are especially important so projects can be pursued responsibly without placing the full cost on local taxpayers.

More broadly, I do see trails, skills facilities and pump tracks as worthwhile investments in Penticton’s recreation, youth and tourism infrastructure. I support mountain biking and think Penticton has a lot of potential to build on the outdoor recreation opportunities we already have.

For me, it comes down to thoughtful planning, choosing the right locations, working with the people who actually use these facilities and making sure projects are financially responsible.”

I absolutely think we need to revist the master plan.  I would like to understand the full scope of the project, cost implications, local or regionally funded and on going maintenance costs. Would it be operationed by volunteers and a society ot city of Penticton ? It sounds like a wonderful concept I would like to explore. I absolutely want to know more about the proposal as I suport active transportation and adding immenities for youth is important to me as long as it has a solid business case. Crown land is an opportunity to be explored as well as regional interest as there is opportunity around the region. I want to see more for youth as keeping  youth busy is a key step to building youth leaders of tomorrow. Tourism infastructure is something that is important to keep our economy moving and sustainable jobs occur when local economy can grow. I welcome continued dialog with council and volunteers. I have encouraged Apex to look at trails over the past few years.  

“Do you support revisiting the Campbell Mountain Trail Master Plan and continuing to expand and improve Penticton’s mountain bike trail network? Yes, Penticton has a large mountain biking community and the trails seem to be well used by locals and tourists alike. I would support expanding the mountain bike trail network.

Do you support developing a dedicated mountain bike skills park in Penticton? It would depend on certain factors like the cost, location and such, but I feel I would be supportive. It’s important to have a variety of different outdoor activities available for our youth and families and we certainly have a climate that it would be utilized for a good portion of the year so I feel that would be something I would be supportive of.

Do you support developing a modern pump track in Penticton, similar to the Velosolutions facilities operating or being developed in other BC communities? Again, it comes down to cost, location, and over community desire. It’s hard to say until I see the proposal but again, I am supportive of anything that keeps people physically and socially active.

If elected, would you support working with the cycling community to identify potential locations, partnerships and external funding opportunities for these projects? Of course. I feel as a city councilor that it would be part of my job. I’m very open minded and easy to talk to. My door is always open.

More broadly, do you see investment in trails, skills facilities and pump tracks as worthwhile investments in Penticton’s recreation, youth and tourism infrastructure? Yes I do think investing in recreation, youth, and tourism infrastructure is valuable to Penticton. Over the years I’ve seen a decline in things for our kids to do and everything seems to cost so much money so I see value in anything that will get people off the couch and outside getting exercise in the fresh air.”

“I absolutely support every point that you’ve brought up my son has just picked up mountain biking. I’ve a lot of nephews and nieces that mountain bike. I was recently at the UBCM municipal conference and there’s a massive tradeshow and there’s actually a company that builds them and we’re actually in talk with them right now but yeah if you’d ever like to get on a call or sit for a coffee or go for a beer chat more please don’t ever hesitate, but I can make it very simple. I will support any endeavour or anything. You and your board and association would like to do.”

“In principle, “YES” to all. . . . I do also support the BMX park too, and hope it can be supported to grow. And to be absolutely clear, I do not support the expansion of bike lanes on city streets in Penticton.”